Long Island Sound – June 22, 1971

At approximately 6:30 A.M. on the morning of June 22, 1971, a red and white Cessna 172E, (#N 3831S), with four men aboard, took off from Windham Airport in Windham Connecticut bound for Fisher’s Island, New York.

The men were identified as:

Dr. Harry Fox, 58, of Back Rd., Windham, Ct.

Peter A. Tambornini, Sr., (Age unk.) of Main St. Willamantic, Ct.

Charles V. Miale, 46, of Atwoodville Rd., Mansfield Center, Ct.

Walter A. Card, 51, of Lover’s Lane Rd., Windham, Ct.

The purpose of the trip was reportedly to participate in a golf tournament. The plane arrived safely at Fisher’s Island, but when it came time to return to Connecticut later in the day heavy fog had settled in over the area. The return trip was expected to take 30 minutes and would require a flight path over Long Island Sound. Shortly after take off, what was described as an explosion over the Sound was heard, but due to the fog nothing was sighted. The Coast Guard initiated a search and rescue operation but nothing was found, and according to the NTSB report-brief, no wreckage was ever recovered.